The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Scott Varley, AFP / Getty Images

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The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is reflected in the window of a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is reflected in the window of a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 3 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 4 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 5 of 14

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The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 7 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / POOL / SCOTT VARLEY SCOTT VARLEY/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Scott Varley, AFP / Getty Images

Image 8 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / POOL / SCOTT VARLEY SCOTT VARLEY/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Scott Varley, AFP / Getty Images

Image 9 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / POOL / SCOTT VARLEYSCOTT VARLEY/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, after arriving before dawn December 26, 2015. ... more

Photo: Scott Varley, AFP / Getty Images

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The largest container ship to ever make port in North America unloads its cargo in the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. After making its maiden voyage from China, where it was built, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin arrived before dawn with its cargo. The ship can carry 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is about a third more than the ships that currently dock in the Port of L.A. The vessel measures 1,300 feet long, 177 feet wide and is 197 feet tall and is staffed with a crew of 26. The giant ship is scheduled to leave Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 30 en route to Oakland before returning to China. (Scott Varley/ The Daily Breeze via AP, Pool) less

The largest container ship to ever make port in North America unloads its cargo in the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. After making its maiden voyage from China, where it ... more

Photo: Scott Varley, Associated Press

Image 12 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is seen from a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is seen from a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 13 of 14

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is reflected in the window of a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after arriving before dawn on December 26, 2015. Launched by the French shipping line CMA CGM S.A. on December 10, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 meters) long, 177 feet (54 meters) wide, and 197 feet (60 meters) tall and has a capacity of approximately 18,000 containers. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images less

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, the largest container ship to ever call at a North America port, is reflected in the window of a tour boat while docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California after ... more

Photo: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images

Image 14 of 14

Largest cargo ship to ever visit U.S. coming to Oakland on Thursday

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A quarter-mile-long megaship that's the largest cargo ship ever to visit the U.S. is expected to arrive at the Port of Oakland on Thursday morning, port officials said today.

The 1,300-foot-long Benjamin Franklin, the 10th largest containership in the world, was launched from a Chinese shipyard last month and arrived at the Port of Los Angeles over the weekend.

It is scheduled to arrive at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Port of Oakland, where it will stay at Berth 24 at the Ports America Outer Harbor Terminal until Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, port officials said.

The ship is operated by CMA CGM, a shipping company based in Marseille, France.

Shipping company officials said they plan to use the ship in regular service connecting China with the West Coast of the U.S. Oakland is one of only a handful of U.S. ports that can receive megaships, which carry large loads of cargo. The port has invested millions of dollars in changes, including dredging berths and channels to depths of 50 feet, raising the heights of cranes and modernizing marine terminals, port officials said.

Last month, port officials announced they will be raising the height of four gantry cranes at the Oakland International Container Terminal by 26 feet to accommodate megaships. The $13.95 million project is scheduled to begin in April.